PTZOptics 20x-SDI Gen2 Review

PTZOptics Website: https://ptzoptics.com/
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Equipment Used In Review Video
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PTZOptics 20x-SDI Gen2 White: https://amzn.to/2RAMtyQ
PTZOptics 20x-SDI Gen2 Black: https://amzn.to/2RB9BgP
PTZOptics IP Joystick Gen2 Controller: https://amzn.to/2ypsLxp
Neewer LED Studio Ring Light: https://amzn.to/2PszFta
ZOOM H1 Digital Recorder: https://amzn.to/2IJeWOV
Elgato HD60s USB3 HDMI Capture: https://amzn.to/2pKi0Su

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My Regular Video Camera
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Sony HDR-CX900: https://amzn.to/2C4abOI

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PTZOptics Camera Review
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From the moment I opened the box to the 2nd Generation PTZ Optics 1080p SDI/HDMI camera, I was pleasantly surprised, and my expectations were surpassed. With its great image quality and its long list of features, this PTZ Optics camera would be a powerful asset to nearly any video content creator.

1. Price – At the time of this review, the MSRP of this camera is a very reasonable $1,899 with a street price of about $1699. This aggressive pricing is a strong selling point of this camera given the high price range of many PTZ cameras. If you are a content creator on a budget, the price of this PTZ Optics camera may be the deciding factor on purchasing this camera.

2. Image Quality – As a content creator myself, the image quality of a camera is, by far, the most important feature for me. I am willing to compromise a lot in terms of camera features to obtain a greater picture. With the PTZ optics camera, I was not disappointed. Although it was a step down in image quality from my regular Sony HDR-CX900 camera with whopping 1” sensor, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the image quality was. The dynamic range of the camera fared well and the digital noise in low light situations was less than I expected.

3. Features – When it comes to features, the PTZ Optics 20x SDI/HDMI Gen2 camera really shines.

a. Video Outputs - This camera sports an impressive 3 simultaneous physical outputs on the back of the camera, including HDMI, 3G-SDI and Composite Video via an 1/8th connection from the CVBS port. This is an extremely convenient feature when needing multiple outputs, not only in a live production setting, but also when working in various cabling workflow. Aside from the 3 direct physical outputs, this PTZ Optics camera also supports NDI | HX as well as multiple bitrates of RTMP and RTSP via h.264 and h.265. This essentially brings the grand total of video outputs to 6!

b. Video Resolution – The PTZ Optics 20x SDI comes equipped with video resolutions of 1080p60 all the way down to 480i. Personally, I tend to lean towards 1080p60 resolution and frame rate for many of my videos, so I was pleased that the camera’s frame rate went as high as 1080p60.

c. POE – Another great feature of this camera is its ability to be powered via POE. Especially in permanent install applications, the ability to use POE to power the unit is very handy. We never used this feature but liked knowing we had the option if and when the time came.

d. Control – One of the greatest assets of this camera is its ability to be controlled both in person and remotely. On the back of the unit there is an IN and OUT port for RS232 as well as an RS485 port for controlling the unit VISCA via a controller, connected laptop, or RS232/485 line. PTZ Optics makes a handful of physical controllers with joysticks for an operator to be able to take full control of the camera. The camera supports VISCA via UDP, meaning the camera can be controlled anywhere on the network.

e. Image Control - The ability to control the image of the camera was very in-depth. The white balance could be controlled in a number of ways including a one-touch set with a piece of white paper, Kelvin color temperature setting, preset location settings like indoor/outdoor, as well as the ability to separately tweak the red and blue gain of the sensor. Within the image settings, you also have control over Luminance, Contrast, Sharpness, Gamma, and Style. In my opinion, the more control over the image, the better.

4. Versatility – Lastly, we have the overall versatility of the camera. Because of the long list of features, the PTZ Optics 20x camera is incredibly versatile across many environments. From preset camera angles, to remote control, to mounting options, to video-signal workflow, the PTZ Optics camera is an easy sell to churches large and small.

5. Verdict - From start to finish, the PTZ Optics 20x HDMI 2nd Generation camera was a great pleasure to use. From its fantastic video quality to a laundry list of features to unparalleled value, I would highly recommend this camera to nearly any content creator or live streamer. I give this camera a 9 out of 10.

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